Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 198.252.245.194 (talk) at 17:46, 28 August 2003 (not good). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

In cosmology's Big Bang theory, the term "dark ages" refers to periods of comparatively little starlight emission, during the early formation of the universe. This would have occurred after decoupling and before the first burst of star formation. Although there was little starlight during this period, there was a substantial degree of [[of Charlemange as Holy Roman Emperor in 800CE.

The negative connotations of the expression Dark Ages have made it unpopular among recent historians of this period. The term Early Medieval is often preferred. The continuities between Dark Age society and late imperial Rome have been stressed by some writers, who wish to emphasise that medieval culture was already developing in the empire, and indeed continued to do so in the unconquered eastern (Byzantine) portion of the empire. However, many of the tribes who took over imperial land were initially iugiubvgiugliusouthern and eastern Mediterranean.

The image of constant barbarian warfare amid the ruins of the Roman empire continues to depict popular conceptions of the Dark Ages, influencing the creation of characters such as Conan the Barbarian. The literature of King Arthur also emerges from this confused period, as civilised urban and Christian Roman cultures attempted to defend themselves against expanding pagan tribes. The struggle between Christian and magical-pagan belief systems in the Arthurian romances epitomises this.